Canaseraga mayor will have open heart surgery

It will be the third open heart operation since 1998 for the first-term Democrat, who ousted incumbent Bob Ames last year.

Swain, a member of the Canaseraga Fire Department, will have a sub-aortic membrane resection and an aortic valve replacement. A sub-aortic membrane is fibrous tissue that forms at the bottom of the sub-aortic valve. The membrane can eventually cover the full bottom of the valve, potentially obstructing left ventricular outflow, according to Cardio Access, an international clinical outcomes database.

Swain underwent a similar procedure in November of 2010, when she had a resection and a bovine valve replacement. This time she will have a mechanical valve replacement.

"I was in the hospital for three days last time, then back home," Swain said Thursday. "Within a couple of days I was out walking."

Swain, 43, said she is facing the surgery with optimism. She has been told the mechanical valve has a longer life-span than the bovine valve — lasting up to 20 years. She is also hopeful this will be the final time she has to have a membrane resection, which is the removal of the fibrous tissue growth.

"I'm hoping this surgeon is able to remove all of the membrane," Swain said.

Once she returns to Canaseraga, Swain will handle mayoral duties from home.

"I'll keep in contact with the office," Swain said. "Email and phone are always available."

While Swain will be at the head of the board table for January's village meeting later this month, she is unsure if she will attend Canaseraga's Feb. 24 village board meeting, taking place exactly two weeks after the surgery. If she can't attend, Deputy Mayor Denise Spike will lead the session, Swain said.

Swain, who said she has been experiencing some shortness of breath but otherwise feeling well, said community members have offered their support and encouragement.